School started last week in our area. After seven years of being a stay-at-home Mom, my sister contemplated returning to the classroom. Mostly due to the possibility of her hubby job being lost – Space Center massive job cuts. Knowing the best opportunity is July/August here, she completed the necessary paperwork and then decided not to apply for a position.
FATE then struck. Jokingly, she asked a teacher friend on Facebook if her school had any openings for a Spanish teacher. Within 24 hours, she had an interview for a Reading teacher position. The following day, she was offered the position. Remember, school started Wednesday last week. Friday she received the call that she is to begin tomorrow, Monday.
My sister has been in “her” classroom once, no pre-planning, no time to meet her “team” or any other school staff. AND she is teaching out-of-field. Have you started a teaching position after school started, or mid year? What hurdles did you face? Do you know any great teacher blogs for middle school (grades 7 & 8) reading?
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School starts in North Carolina end of August, and last year I was hired end of September. I applied, interviewed, and signed my contract for a 2nd grade position and literally two days before I was to begin I was called by the principal and told I would be teaching 4th grade math and science. So, I can TOTALLY empathize with your sister. The biggest thing that I did NOT do when I first began teaching was explain to my students MY expectations. Since school had already started and these students already had a teacher for the first month I figured they’d be ready to go with procedures and expectations. I was frustratingly wrong. So, although this seems like the first thing a good teacher does the first day/week of school coming into a classroom after the beginning of school expceted to begin teaching day one you forget to go over the normal first day/week “stuff.” Good luck to your sister!!!!
Great point NCTeacher, thanks so much!
I agree with NCTeacher on that one. I began my first year of teaching as a November hire, as the 5th teacher for an overcrowded 2nd grade. Expectations are a MUST or they will run all over you. Also get on the parents good side ASAP, I don’t know much for middle school kids but I assume it is almost the same as elementary. They can really help you when you need it. As for what I did for websites, I would recommend Scholastic Printables or Teachervision. Granted they are pay for websites, but they were such a lifesaver and time saver when I really needed something do with my class and wasn’t sure what to do. Scholastic Printables is especially great because you get 500 bonus points for signing up and then you get books for your classroom too! 🙂 I also stayed late a lot to play catch up researching different teaching methods. Granted one could do this at home too, but I didn’t have the Internet at the time. I wish your sister good luck, I hope maybe her school will give her a break and help her find a mentor.